AFTER 20 of the past 22 years in power it had finally dawned on State Labor that small business was being strangled by government red tape.

LNP Shadow Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jann Stuckey said it was an insult to Queensland’s 400,000 small businesses for the Bligh government to now be advertising for a Commissioner, one person, to cut red tape.

“I hope he or she comes with a Harry Potter-style magic wand – abracadabra! Red tape will now vanish,” Ms Stuckey said

“It’s clear Labor has abandoned its Office for Regulatory Efficiency that was supposed to cut red tape and over-regulation for business.

“How one person can do more than a whole office hasn’t been explained by Minister Jan Jarratt and I won’t be holding my breath for any sense from Rachel Nolan either.”

Ms Stuckey said after Sunday, Queensland businesses, including tourist operators, would be hit with a whole new raft of costly regulatory requirements with the Gillard carbon tax.

“Jan Jarratt, Rachel Nolan, Anna Bligh, Julia Gillard and the rest of Labor have absolutely no idea of the stress tourist operators and small business are under.

“Labor’s feel-good announcement of advertising for one person to cut red tape, over-regulation and drive reform to substantially reduce the cost of doing business is an absolute insult to Queensland small business,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Only the LNP will cut waste and deliver more to boost business confidence,” she said.